This 10-chapter book covers the history of unemployment insurance (UI) in the United States from its beginning in the 1930's to the present and describes how the program evolved in response to various economic and other factors and to the controversies that emerged in the process. Chapter 1 provides background on trends in the extent, duration, and nature of unemployment as well as employment and labor force trends. Chapter 2 explores each broad objective generally indicated for UI for its significance. Chapter 3 shows that unemployment is an insurable risk and discusses features that make the program "social insurance." Chapter 4 summarizes foreign experience with UI. Chapter 5 reviews voluntary UI programs and traces the history of legislative activity prior to passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. Chapter 6 highlights Congressional considerations of UI proposals and changes made as those proposals were fashioned into law. Chapter 7 focuses on passage of state UI legislation, early experience under state laws, and reconversion of the economy after World War II. Chapter 8 describes management of federal responsibilities for UI and reviews federal legislation for 1947-69. Chapter 9 summarizes principal changes produced by federal legislation enacted after 1969 as they affected major aspects of the UI program. Chapter 10 reviews patterns and trends of state statutory provisions since 1948. An epilogue summarizes the temporary emergency program of 1991 and other legislative changes of importance adopted in the early 1990s. A list of 152 references and an index are provided. (YLB)